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J. Wayne Lee, property manager

J. Wayne Lee, 81, a commercial property manager, died Jan. 9 of the complications of a stroke at the Hill at Whitemarsh, where he lived in retirement after residing for more than 40 years in Chestnut Hill.

When he retired in 1997, Mr. Lee was vice president of the Jacksom-Cross Co., managing several Center City office buildings. Earlier he had managed diverse properties for Cynwyd Investments in Bala Cynwyd and was a real estate representative for Acme Markets.

He also served on the executive committee and as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association.

Born in Philadelphia, Mr. Lee was the son of P. Blair Lee, a distinguished Philadelphia banker and civic leader, and the great, great, great grandson of Richard Henry Lee, signer of the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Virginia and president of the Continental Congress.

He attended Chestnut Hill Academy, the Pomfert School and graduated from the Wharton School of Business. He served as a captain in the Army transportation corps, then studied agriculture at the University of Maryland’s Graduate School while working for his uncle Col. E. Brook Lee, who owned and operated a large cattle and real estate operation.

He was an avid ice hockey player and a member of Wissahickon Skating Club, serving on its board more than four decades and as club president. During his tenure at WSC, he oversaw several significant improvements to the skating programs and facility. He also served as a valuable member of many committees at the Hill at Whitemarsh.

He is survived by his wife, Anne; a daughter, Anne Lee Lohr, of Wallingford; sons J. Wayne Lee Jr., of Philadelphia, and Henry R. Lee, of White House Station, N.J.; sisters Anne Lee Reath, of Irvington, Va., and Laura Bullitt, of Bryn Mawr, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday Jan. 17, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 22 E. Chestnut Hill Ave., in Chestnut Hill, followed by a reception at the Philadelphia Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill. Memorial donations be made in his name to the Friends of Acadia, P.O. Box 45, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609. – WF